May 10, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Fizz

Here are my top wine picks from the May 10, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (link to flipbook). In time for Mother's Day this weekend, the feature story of this release is titled "Fizz" and looks at sparkling wines for various occasions. It is a compact release with only 77 products offered, and a whopping 31 wines are among my recommended buys. All the wines should...

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DAME Beverage Co. Hard Seltzer and Italian Spritzers (Ontario) - Reviews

Tonight's reviews are a trio of lovely ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages crafted in Ontario, Canada, by DAME Beverage Co.Founded by Melissa Pulvermacher in 2023, DAME Beverage is based on a simple philosophy of crafting ridiculously delicious beverages while committing to keeping them clean and pure. The focus is on sourcing good quality ingredients, balance, quality, and...

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Featherstone Phoenix Gewürztraminer 2024 and Sauvignon Blanc 2024 and (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's white wine reviews are a pair of lovely, vegan-friendly, sustainable, and locally crafted wines from Niagara. Both of these wines were bottled at the beginning of February and arrived at the LCBO in the April 12th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.These wines are grown and produced locally by Niagara's own Featherstone Estate Winery. Established in 1999 by Dave...

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Kew Blanc de Blancs 2017 and Blanc de Noirs 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

After enjoying the excellent 2020 Kew Vineyards Marsanne a few months ago (and still widely available in stores today), tonight's sparkling wine reviews a pair of wonderful bubblies from the same producer in Niagara that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature story on Bubbles in the December 14 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.Both of these fantastic bubblies are produced...

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Kew Vineyards Marsanne 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is an excellent Marsanne from the Beamsville Bench appellation in Niagara that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month as part of the feature on Ontario Wines in the September 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.It is produced by Kew Vineyards, a boutique winery focused on small-batch production that is located in the heart of Niagara on the...

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September 7, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Ontario

Here's my top wine picks from the September 7, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. As is always the case, the first release of September features the fabulous wines from Ontario. It is a very good release with just over 100 wines, and all are readily available across the province.We begin with the theme on wines from Ontario. Of the sixteen wines featured as part of...

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Free Sushi Electric Blue Raspberry (Canada) - Review

With the news that Ready-To-Drink (RTD) beverages are now available at grocery stores across Ontario, tonight's RTD review is something I've had in my possession for some time now and never got around to opening. While it is long sold-out at the LCBO, this RTD may be coming to shelves at your local grocery store in the near future.Free sushi was created by the founders with...

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Trius Showcase Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is an excellent, single vineyard Chardonnay from Niagara that was featured in the piece on Local Talent in the recent July 6 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It will be available at the LCBO once the strike ends, but can be ordered directly today from the winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake or via The Wine Shop.It is produced by Trius Winery, a Canadian...

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Kacaba Reserve Riesling 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

To celebrate Mother's Day, tonight's white wine review is a lovely Niagara Riesling that I purchased at the winery while visiting Niagara during the Icewine Festival back in January 2020. Of course, this vintage has long sold out, while newer vintages are currently available for purchase from the winery.Tasting Note:KACABA RESERVE RIESLING 2017 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario,...

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The Tragically Hip Fully Completely Reserve Red 2021 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a fully and completely delicious Bordeaux-varietal red blend from Niagara that returned to the LCBO last month in the April 27 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.It is produced by Stoney Ridge Estate Winery, a producer that was established in December 1986 as Stoney Ridge Cellars and was the 14th licensed winery in Canada. The name of the winery...

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Cuvée 2024 - Tickets selling fast for Ontario’s biggest VQA celebration

It’s a tasting experience no wine enthusiast should miss.Featuring more than 100 wines, each carefully curated as the favourites of Ontario’s top winemakers, the 2024 Cuvée Grand Tasting promises an experience like no other as it takes over the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre in St. Catharines on Saturday, March 30.Organized by Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology...

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Kacaba Cabernet/Syrah 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Cabernet Franc and Syrah blend that was locally and sustainably grown and crafted in Niagara and arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent March 2nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.Like the 2019 Kacaba Cabernet Franc that I enjoyed last year, this red wine is also produced by Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, a premium, small-batch winery...

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